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32 <br />accidentally introduced to the Upper Colorado River Basin, including the <br />Duchesne River Basin. Many of these fishes have established resident <br />populations because of alteration of stream flows and resultant changes in <br />physical aquatic habitats favorable to their existence. Many of these fishes; <br />are reproducing naturally and, in some cases, out-reproducing native fishes. <br />Presently, two-thirds of the fish species in the Colorado River system are <br />exotic (nonnative). Nonnative fishes continue to invade endangered fish <br />habitats through introductions, escapement, and range expansions. Some <br />exotics are stocked in basin rivers mostly for sport fishing purposes, while <br />other exotics are removed when encountered but still represent a major <br />detriment to the 14 native fishes still residing in the basin. <br />Stocking of cold water sports fishes such as trout do not appear to have a <br />dramatic effect on native fish populations, primarily because their habitats <br />do not overlap significantly and they are less voracious than other warm water <br />exotics such as bass, pike, and catfish. Recovery program participants have <br />concluded that continued stocking of trout does not represent any long-term <br />threat to listed fishes. However, stocking of warm water fishes will be <br />controlled and intensively monitored to ensure that physical barriers or other <br />behavioral limitations will reduce the likelihood of interspecific competition <br />and/or predation. On September 5, 1996, a stocking policy was completed by <br />the three Upper Basin States and the Fish and Wildlife Service to establish <br />procedures for stocking fish within the Upper Colorado River Basin. <br />The Duchesne River provides a home fora number of exotic fishes, most notably <br />smallmouth bass and channel catfish which were historically stocked in basin <br />streams and reservoirs to accommodate recreational fishing demand (Mullan <br />1976). Their subsequent escapement from reservoirs, and the establishment of <br />reproducing populations in riverine environments in the Duchesne, is still a <br />concern today. <br />Midview Dam and Reservoir is an off stream impoundment which contains trout, <br />smallmouth bass, green sunfish, bluegill and carp. The reservoir is filled <br />via direct diversion of Duchesne River flows through the Duchesne Feeder <br />Canal. The Duchesne Feeder Canal is 15 miles long and is believed to be an <br />impediment to nonnative fishes moving out of the reservoir, ascending the <br />canal, and returning to the Duchesne River (Personal Communication, Mike <br />Montoya, Ute Tribe Fish and Wildlife Dept.). Reservoir tailwaters feed into <br />the Midview Lateral and Dry Gulch canal for irrigation purposes. Tailwaters <br />not used for irrigation as well as irrigation return flows, however,. do return <br />to the Duchesne River. Escapement of nonnative fishes form Midview Reservoir <br />into the Duchesne River remains a possibility even though it may be minimal. <br />